Did you receive a text message saying you owe money to E-ZPass?

On May 28, Maryland’s Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown, issued a public alert warning consumers about scam text messages falsely claiming to represent a road toll collection service asserting that you owe money for unpaid tolls.

The scam text looks like the example displayed below: 

Maryland Toll Services: We’ve noticed an outstanding toll amount of $12.51 on your record. To avoid a late fee of $50.00, visit https://sunspasstolls.com to settle your invoice.

Do not pay any money or reveal any personal information to any person or group that contacts you through a text about a toll debt.  

If you receive one of these texts, the Attorney General recommends that you: 

• Do NOT click on any links in the text. 
• File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and be sure to include:
  • The phone number from which the text originated; and
  • The website listed in the text.
• Check your account using the toll service’s legitimate website. For Maryland E-ZPass, this website is https://driveezmd.com/
• Contact the toll service’s customer service phone number. Maryland E-ZPass’ customer service number is 1-888-321-6824.
• After doing the above, delete any texts like this that you receive. 

If you have received a text like this and paid the texter any amount of money or revealed any personal information, follow these steps: 

• Contact the company that facilitated the funds transfer to see if you can stop the payment.
• Contact the Attorney General’s Identity Theft Unit to learn how to protect yourself in case the scammers try to use your personal information and how to recover if you are impacted
• Contact your local law enforcement department to report the theft. 
• Report the incident to the Office of the Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission.  

Also be forewarned that this scam is being circulated up and down the East Coast along the I-95 corridor – including all Interstate Turnpikes and Toll roads –  so Marylanders are not the only consumers at risk.

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(Source: Maryland Office of the Attorney General)
(Cover photo, Image credit: YouTube)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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